Mexico’s former WBC bantamweight title challenger Christian Esquivel has warned former world flyweight and reigning OPBF champion Malcolm “Eagle Eye” Tunacao not to make future plans until he faces him in their title eliminator in Kobe, Japan on Saturday.

The 26 year old Esquivel who has a record of 25-3 with 18 knockouts, told the 35 year old southpaw Tunacao “you can’t make future plans. First you must face me before thinking of fighting against (Shinsuke) Yamanaka." Yamanaka is the current champion.

Esquivel told the WBC website “I believe we boxers need to respect each other. I will defeat Tunacao first and then I will focus on a rematch against Shinsuke. I’m glad Malcolm is brimming with confidence, because I will be all the happier when I beat him.”

The Mexican has reportedly sparred a total of 120 rounds and the WBC site said Esquivel “is as strong as a lion.”

Esquivel confided, “I trained hard to get used to fighting southpaw rivals, and I’m ready! I’ve been watching videos of Tunacao’s fights and I know exactly how to defeat him.”

However Tunacao, the former WBC flyweight champion who won the title with a 7th round TKO over Manny Pacqiiao conqueror Medgoen Singsurat on May 19, 2000 but lost by a 1st round TKO to Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in his second title defense, stands 5’7” and is expected to use his reach advantage and his experience to the hilt.

Esquivel lost by an 11th round TKO to Yamanaka on November 16, 2011. He is coming off a twelve round unanimous decision over Jesus Ruiz last April 14.

Tunacao, on the other hand won his last fight by a unanimous decision over eight rounds against Martin Mubiru last September 15.